Local police chief Joseph Salvaggio said his officers at first thought it was a hoax as the US has been celebrating “shark week”.

San Antonio Aquarium, from where the 18in-long shark was taken, feared it would be unable to survive.

But Miss Helen was safely recovered and taken back to the aquarium.

According to Salvaggio, the individual had some knowledge on how to deal with these types of animals since when the got into the garage and into the house, it looked like almost a mockup of (the aquarium).